Secrets of the party starters

How do you throw the best bash? Just ask Instagram stars (and real-life besties)
Jen Worman, Ceta Walters, and Andrea Levoff

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. No pressure or anything.

Who are we kidding? It’s the biggest night of the year and you gotta have a genius plan. Or just follow the lead of Chicago trendsetters. We asked three of the most stylish and savvy to share their favorite ideas for having a little party at home. Read on and get pumped for cocktails and cute dresses, pizza and PJs, and more. Going out? We’ve got ideas for that, too.

Jen Worman @redsolesandredwine

The Perfect PreParty

Get. Fired. Up. How you rally at home before you go out is crucial. Worman, a West Loop resident who has 204K followers on Instagram and is loved for her lifestyle advice (and pulling off stilettos in any situation), offers these tips.

The style: Sparkly and luxe

“For a night out dancing I love to wear sequin dresses or a nice mini dress layered with a luxe coat. When it gets really chilly, a fabulous pair of leather leggings with a bodysuit and sweater looks great with black booties

The playlist: Nonstop hip-hop

Worman’s Top 10

“Bad Girls” by M.I.A.

“Hollywood” by Gorillaz, featuring Snoop Dogg

“Champion” by NAV & Travis Scott

“Hold On, We’re Going Home” by Drake

“Drip” by Cardi B & Migos

“Sunflower” by Post Malone & Swae Lee

“Clique” by Kanye West, featuring Big Sean & Jay-Z

“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars

“Drunk in Love” by Beyoncé

“All Night” by Chance the Rapper with Knox Fortune

The drink: Sweet and bubbly

“Wet the Champagne flutes and dip the rims in sugar. Then pour some pink lemonade, your favorite bubbly, and top with a lemon slice on the rim.”

When you go out

Worman loves a good hotel, where you can eat, party then head straight to your room.

SPLASH recommends

Z Bar at Peninsula Hotel (108 E. Superior, 312-573-6888). Check out its “All That Glitters” NYE party ($50) featuring music and Champagne.

Ceta Walters @clarkandstone

The Dinner Fete

The way to any guest’s heart: food. And style. And lots of conversation. Take it from the East Village’s Walters, a former model who parlayed her impeccable fashion sense (and down-to-earth attitude) into 43.5K Instagram followers.

Prefer to get catering? Walters’s go-to is Paramount Events (773-880-8044), from which she adores Yukon potato blinis with caviar and crème fraîche, seared salmon with Broccolini, and “chocolate anything.”

The setting: A textured tablescape

“I begin with napkins and placemats. Look for interesting textures and patterns, like pearlized fabrics or faux leather, or napkins that have colorful stitched edges. Metallic tree ornaments in bowls make great centerpieces. I always find great stuff at CB2 or Z Gallerie.”

Andrea Levoff @andrealevoff

The Girls’ Night In

Sometimes, staying in is the new going-out-‘til-dawn. Levoff, who lives in Lincoln Park, says to gather your girls and laugh late into the night. Her 56.6K Instagram followers know she brings the fun wherever she goes (especially to her popular female standup comedy nights, held across town).

The must-do: Play with beauty

Make it a spa-night-in – the more products to experiment with, the better. And fire up those YouTube makeup tutorials. Says Levoff, “I’ve been after the perfect cat eye for ages! Night is a chance to try something dramatic. What better way to test things out then on an unsuspecting girlfriend?”

The menu: Pizza and beauty cocktails

“A fancy night doesn’t always mean fancy food. Order pizza for a high school slumber party feel.” Whip up a cocktail with collagen, known for skin-plumping, antiaging benefits.

Ginger and Orange Moscow Mule

¼ to ½ teaspoon grated ginger

½ cup pure orange juice

½ cup unsweetened apple juice

1 scoop of Amandean’s Premium Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides

Mint to garnish

Ice

Combine ginger, juices, and peptides in a blender. Put the mixture in a mug, add ice, and garnish. Enjoy!

If you go out

Levoff loves a chill cocktail bar to catch up with your girls.

SPLASH recommends heading to the subterranean level of Momotaro (820 W. Lake) for the NYE party ($125) at Izakaya lounge, featuring an open bar, food, ice luge, and music.